Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-03
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FOR Haow Mmch May Eta weather BIO
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In Harpsr's Magazine for February
Charles Dudley Warner writes The
month Of February In ell lAtitudea In the
United States is uncertain. The birth of
George Washington in It has not raised il
in public esteem. In the north, 1t ia a
month to flee from in the south, ct best
ii Ia waiting month"; month of rain
and tickle skies. A good deal has been
done for IL. II is the month of St. Valen-
tine, it Is distinguished by the leap-y year
addition of day, and ought to be
fayorite OF the gentle sex but it remains
sort of of period in the year. Its brevity
recommends il, but the Drawer would
take no notice Of II were 1t not for its effect
upon character. A month of rigid
weather is supposed to brace up the
moral nature, and q month of gentleness
Ia supposed to soften the asperities of the
disposition, but February contributes to
neither Of these ends. It is neither tonic
nor soother; that Is, in most parts Of
our inexptcable land. We make no COM
plant of this. 1t Ia probably we'll to have
period in the year that tests character
to the utmost, and the person who can
enter spring through thegate of February
q better man or woman is likely to adorn
society the rest of the year.
February, however, Is merely an illus
tration Of the effect Of weather upon the
desperation. Persons differ In regard to
their sensitlyeness to cloudy, rainy and
gloomy days. We recognize this in a
general way, but the relation of temper
and disposition to the weather has never
been scientifically studied. Our obserya-
ton OF the influence of climate is mostly
with regard to physical infrmities. We
know the effect Of damp weather upon
rheumatics and of the east wind upon
equity subjects, but too little allowance il
made for the influence of weather upon
the spirits and the conduct of men. We
know that long period of gloomy
weather leads TO suicides, and we OBJ
serve that long continued clouds and
rain beget ''crossness" and nltemper
and we are all familiar with the universe
exhilaration of sunshine and clear all
upon any company of men and women
But the point the Drawer wishes to make
is that neither society nor the law make
any allowance for the alterations O
human nature caused by dull and I'm
pleasant weather. And this is yer.
singular in this humanitarian age
when excuse is found for nearly ever.
moral delinquency in heredity or environ
ment, that the greatest factor of disoon
tent and crookedness, the weather, shoult
be left out of consideration altogether
The relation of crime to the Temperature
and the humidity of the atmosphere
not taken into account. Yet crime ant
eccentricity of conduct are very muol
the result Of atmospheric conditions
since they depend upon the temper AMI
the spirit of the community. Man,
people are habitually blue and down
hearted in sour weather; long spell o
cloudy, damp, cold weather depresse
everybody, lowers hope, tends to melan
choly; and people when they are no
cheerful are more apt to fall into evi
ways, as rule, than when they are in
normal state of good humor AND
aside from crimes, the vexation
the friction, the domestic disconten
in life, are provoked by bad weather
We should like to have some statistics a
TO incompRtibility between married
couples produced by damp and raw days
and to know whether divorces are NOR
numerous in the states that suffer from
tickle climate than in those where tn
climate is more equable. 1t is true tina
in the Sandwich Islands and in Egyp
there is greater mental serenity, less pei
turbation of spirit, less worry, than in th
changeable United States. Something {
this placidity and resignation to the i'll
inevitable in human life is due to an eve
climate, to the constant sun and the di
air. We cannot hope to prevent erin
and suffering by statistics, any more tina
we have been able to improve our china
(Which is rather worse now than befol
the scientists took it in charge
by observations and Geographic r
ports; but we can, by carefl
tabulation of the effect of ba
weather upon the spirits of communit
learn what places in the Union are favo
able to the production of cheerfulne
and an equal mind. And we should Ii
load of reprobation from some plac,
ness and unamisbility. We find IL
people Of one place hospitable, ligh
hearted, and agreeable; the people
another place, cold and morose and III
pleasant. 1t would be q satisfaction
know that the weather is responsible t,
the difference. Observation of this so
would also teach us doubtless what p!ac
are most conducive to literary prodn
ton, what TO happy homes and egrhei
wives AID husbands. All our territory
mapped out as to its sanitary 2oaaitiC;
why NOT have it coIored as to its etft
upon the spirits and the enjoyment
life The suggestion opens a vast ti'
OF investigation.